Abandoned: Original ACEO by Lizardo...The Story Behind It.

It's funny how I think I am creating things because I am just playing with colors and texture, then something deeper will pop out at me. It always happens backwards this way. I never paint my emotions on purpose but I do paint them.

Ben always makes fun of my titles. He asked me if I felt abandoned and I said no...that I was thinking of an old abandoned building I saw when I was driving. This is true. I was thinking of that when I created Abandoned.

Then, it occured to me that I do actually feel quite abandoned. By people...yes. But worst of all myself. That is the worst too. Because in the end, it really is all about me.

I think a lot of people do this. It's easy to get caught up in all the things that people want you to do for them. And then you wake up wondering...what about me? I have been very naive to think that if you do more for people,they will turn around and do more for you. This is so not true.

I am not suggesting that we not do things for each other. I am suggesting that we take a look and see we are really doing the things we want to be doing. People love to help each other. But when it gets to the point where you feel you are missing out on aspects of your life that you enjoy, it's time to take a step back.

So, there is the story behind the art. Thanks for looking!

Click here to view Abandoned.

Thoughts About The Business World

So...a couple of nights ago, I am working in my hotel and the alarm starts going off. Apparently a tornado has touched down in the city I work in. Very close to the hotel. So we have to take all of our bar guests to the tunnels underneath the hotel to safety. Not an easy task considering you can't even hear the rain from inside our bar. Of course everyone is giving us a hard time and thinks we're overreacting. Well, not really since this is the first time they've actually made us take shelter. But that's okay. We do what we have to do, tornado or no tornado.



I'm actually pretty immune to tornados. They happen all the time in my area and if I freaked out over every single one I would be insane. I understand they happen and I am okay with that. I can't control it and I'm not even going to try. If one is coming straight towards me, I'll take shelter and wait for it to pass. And I have never been inside a tornado in the 27 years I've lived here.



My professor has been talking about how the business world is complete chaos. From my experiences with the jobs I've had so far, I can agree. He said we are seeking structure and all kinds of good stuff like that. I see that all the time at work really. People are always asking the managers to enforce rules to make up more rules. It makes them feel better I guess. I hate being micromanaged. That is why I am learning how to build a successful business.



So...as a self employeed person trying to survive the choas, how do you find structure? Create every day. Promote every day. I am not the type to stick to a specific schedule. I have my list of things to do and do them one at a time. As long as they get done, it's cool. And now that I have my list on my phone, things get done. (I think this phone is magical...LOL)



I truly believe Etsy is chaos, just like any other business. The front page selection is chaos. Completely out of our control. The design of the website....out of our control. The featured seller...out of our control. The aesthetic of the site...out of our control. So let's not try to control that. Let's do the best we can with what we have. There are so many ways we can help each other out and help ourselves out.



I keep seeing threads in the forums about how Etsy needs to do stuff for us. I'm never going to bank on that. It is my job to promote my business and I know that. If they change a search or whatever, that's fine. If I am getting views from my promotional efforts, what's a few hits here and there? They are providing the place to list and potential customers. I'll take it from here. I have learned so much from the Storque and from the forums...I think Etsy has done enough for me.



You know, the more I do this, the more I realize that it will take a lot more than listing on Etsy. It will take art shows and openings and mingling with the art world. It will require getting up at hours I don't necessarily care to be up at sometimes. It will mean working at art shows on weekends when I'd rather be drinking beer on the patio somewhere. It will mean taking a serious amount of rejection. The more I get into it, the more that I see there will be some rejection. I can deal with that.



I have been taking a long hard look at myself lately. As my confidence grows, I see that I am capable of much more than I am doing for myself. That's why I started working out. That's why I study in little pockets of time, work on my business in little pockets of time. I've already decided that I am not giving up. Not after this week where I have been featured in 2 places and have one on the way. I'm getting closer!



Thank you for sticking this post out!

::Liz::

View Original Abstract Paintings

How To Use MySpace

How Do I Use MySpace For My Business?

I have made sales from MySpace and you can too. The key to this is letting it happen organically. How do you do something like this? Where do you start?

Add the right people.

I started by adding all of the galleries in my area. Every one, little and small. They send announcements of shows and calls for artists. It's a good way to get to know the gallery too. You will see what types of work they typically show and know if you are a fit or not.

This is how you find the galleries, for example. Everyone will be different. I try to add anyone organization that has shows or opportunities for me to meet other artists or show my work. I like to attend events and this is one way that I find out about them.

When you find a gallery, scan through their friends to look for more galleries or organizations. If you see an artist and like them, add them but tell them that you like thier work in the notes. They'll appreciate that.

Post pictures of what you do.

If you post the pictures, they will show up in the feed of what is going on. Then maybe, a bulletin or post in the blog section. But no need to advertise every five minutes that you have a painting. It gets annoying.

Also, be personal. MySpace and sites like this are a chance for people to see you as a person behind the art. Etsy is business. If someone is on your MySpace they are looking for clues about the real you. So post pictures of what you are doing in life too. You don't have to post 80 vacation pics but let people see who you are.

Make connections in person.

Whenever I am in an art show, I always make friends with the other artists on MySpace. If they post something I like, I comment. This is a great way to keep a business connection going. It's a two-way street. If you have an opportunity, why not share it with the other artists you know. They will do the same for you, most of time. A lot of artists will post information about openings and calls for artists.

Invite your MySpace friends to your openings.

It's amazing what people will come out of the woodwork to see a gallery show. At least one person I haven't seen in years shows up to every opening. Send out the invite. Make them feel special. It's nice to see the widespread support of others around you. It's also less scary when you see a familiar face or two at your shows.

So there you have it. This is how I use MySpace and Facebook to support my art.

Add me on MySpace!

F6 Gallery Show

Oh, the life of an artist. As you can see I am pretty normal looking and that kind of made me stand out like a sore thumb at my last gallery show. LOL Seriously, the show was really fun and there were all kinds of people there. I really like that aspect of it.

The low point? I am talking to my boyfriend's parents and suddenly the unmistakable smell of weed fills the air. You couldn't light up somewhere else? Just a few feet away? It really doesn't bother me and I don't think his mom really noticed. Made me laugh actually.

I like selling my work online but there is something so cool about watching people view your art in person. At one point, I noticed some people taking pictures of my painting on thier phones and talking about the texture and it was just the best feeling in the world.

I'll definitely be applying for more and more shows this year. It's just fun.

In the meantime I have been on this organizing kick all week. It's easier to create when you don't have laundry looming in the backround. My goal is to sell so many paintings I can afford to have someone clean my house from time to time.